Connector



Sept. 21; 1948. F, WA S N 23,449,869

CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 14, 1947 Inventor William E Watsoh' pawn; 3 M

Patented Sept. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE v 2,449,869 CONNECTOR William F. jWatson, Bronx, N. Y. Application February :14, 1947, Serial No .'728,601 I 2 Claims. (01.28544) This invention relates, to new and useful improvement and structural refinements in connectors, more specifically, connector nipple assemblies such as are commonly employed for connecting pipes or tubes to hot water tanks, boilers, and similar enclosures, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described, which may be easily andrigidly secured to such tanks, without the necessity of gaining access to the interior of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector which may be quickly installed in position, even by unskilled persons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector which is simple in construction, neat in appearance, and which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a connector which is otherwise Well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended.

With the above more important objects in view and such other objects a may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of the invention in situ on a tank;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is an elevational view, taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in Figure l and showing the invention partially broken away, and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a nipple used in the invention, together with a pair of keeper rods associated therewith.

Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a connector designated generally by the reference character I0, such as may be effectively employed in association with an enclosure, for example, a hot water tank, a boiler, or the like, indicated at II.

The Wall of the latter is formed with a suitable opening I2 and a tubular nipple I3 is positioned in this opening, as is best shown in Figure 3.

The nipple I3 is formed adjacent the inner end the mid portions I18 of the rods being of sufiicient thereof with a pair of diametrically opposed aperthe outer endof the nipple, as will be clearly apparent.

The inner end portions 20 of the rods I6 projectoutwardly through the apertures I4 and engage the inner surface 2I of the tank II, that is to say, after the nipple I3 has been positioned in the'op'ening I2, the rods I6 may be inserted in the bore IT and the rod portions 20 may be pro{ jected through the apertures I4, so as to'facilitate this engagement.

Thereupon, a suit-able gasket (preferably formed from resilient material) 22 is positioned on the nipple I3, one side of the gasket being concave, if necessary, so as to conform to the external curvature or contour of the tank II. The nipple I3 also carries a clamping nut 23 positioned on the threaded portion l5, and a flat washer 24 is interposed between the nut 23 and the gasket 22, as will be clearly understood.

Finally, it will be noted that the mid portions I8 of the rods I6 are formed with a series of spaced notches 25, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

When it, is necessary to connect a pipe (not shown) to the tank II, this may be quickly and easily accomplished by the use of the invention, without the necessity of gaining access to the interior of the tank. It i only necessary to form an opening (indicated at I-2) in the wall of the tank, so that the nipple I3 may be inserted in the opening, and the rods I6 may subsequently be applied to the nipple, substantially as described.

It will be noted that the U-shaped configuration of the rods will safeguard against the possibility of their being dropped into the tank through the nipple, which feature will be particularly appreciated when the installation is being made by unskilled hands.

In any event, when the rod portions 20 are engaged with the inner surface 2I of the tank I I, the gasket, washer, and nut, 22, 24, and 23, respectively are applied to the nipple, whereupon, by simply tightening the nut 23, the entire assembly will be firmly and securely retained in position on the tank. Needless to say, the purpose cf the gasket 22 is to prevent the possibility of leakage, after the installation has been made.

The aforementioned notches 25 in the rod portions I8 will provide what may be referred to as cross-sectionally reduced areas having a, lesser resistance to bending, whereby the outwardly projecting portions of the rods I6 may be broken away after the nut 23 is tightened, substantially as indicated in the upper righthand portion of the accompanying Figure 3. Thereupon, a suitable coupling nut (not shown) may be applied to the screw-threaded portion 15 of the nipple for the purpose of connecting the latter to a pipe, tube, or the like (also not shown).

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearlyunderstood from the foregoing disclosure? and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is considered unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown" and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understoodthat minor changes in the details of construction, combi-' nation and arrangement of partssmaw'bezresortecb laterally from the outer end of said nipple, the outer end portion of said nipple being externally screw-threaded, a nut on said threaded portion, and packing means provided between said nut and the outer surface of said wall, the mid portions of said rods being formed with a series of spaced weakening notches.

2. In association with an enclosure having a wall formed Withan opening,- a; connector comprising a tubular 'ni'pple positioned in said opening and having inner and outer ends, the inner end portion of said nipple being formed with laterally disposed apertures, a plurality of substantially L-shaped keeper rods positioned in said 15.1nippleand-extending outwardly therefrom, said rods having angulated inner portions projecting throu'gl'i 'saidiaip'ertures, and externally manipulable means on said nipple for urging the projecti'ng inner portions of said rods against the 20 inner surface of said wall.

Fl W'HTSON;

REFERENCES CITED The following, references are of recorduinflthe.

file-i of this patent:

UNI'EED STATES; Number Name Date 9981352! Kiiblin V c July 713;, 19.111 2,'20U;8'7'6' Ehinger May 14,.I9403 

